What are the Top Undergraduate Photography Schools?

When selecting a school, you want to make sure that you will be attending one that will help your career. This is especially true in the field of photography. People tend to look at the school you have on your resume as a testament to your work ethic and raw talent. Therefore, it is no surprise that there is a great deal of interest in what the top undergraduate photography schools might be. However, before you start considering what the top schools may be, you need to know a few things.

Initially, it is important to note that the rankings of top schools, especially in the arts can be tremendously political. A good deal of the rankings relies on who the individual on staff may be. If a school has the resources to attract top talent in the industry to serve as faculty, they tend to get more notice. However, talent as a photographer does not necessarily translate into talent as a professor. Do not be fooled by rankings. There are plenty of smaller programs with spectacular professors who will teach you more about your craft than the most acclaimed photographers ever could.

Moreover, the rankings tend to prefer more established institutions. If a school has been around for over a century, they are assumed to be more prestigious and worthy of praise. That does not mean that newer or more experimental programs cannot offer a great deal to you as a student. While rankings can tell you a lot about history, they cannot always tell you a good amount about the quality of the education you will receive, or the way it will be delivered. Keep in mind that different people learn in different ways, so it is important to do research on the programs you are applying to, instead of just relying blindly on rankings.

However, this does not mean that top ranked schools are not excellent institutions. Some of the best schools in the country include the Academy of Art University, the Brooks Institute of Photography, the Art Institute of Colorado, the Center for Digital Imaging Arts at Boston University, the Art Institute of Fort Lauderdale, the International Academy of Design & Technology, Miami International University of Art & Design, the Art Institute of Atlanta, Harrington College of Design, the Illinois Institute of Art, Maine Media Workshops, Brown College, McIntosh College, Briarcliffe College, the School of Visual Arts, the International Center of Photography, Antonelli College, and the Ohio Institute of Photography and Technology, just to name a few. These schools offer a variety of programs geared at photography for business and for art. Take a look at their websites, and find the one that might be a good fit for you.